|
|
|
|
|
|
rest his eyes and had some difficulty in keeping his hands to himself. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The presentation of the sow's head brought his seething desire, his sense of loss for the Alinor he had known, who seemed to have disappeared, and his terror at the remembrance of her wild heedlessness of her own safety all to a head. Completely forgetting himself, Ian flushed brick red and roared, "Alinor! Did you not swear to me you would not hunt?" |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Would you have me sit and watch my friends and guests trampled and slashed without raising a finger to help them?" Alinor flashed back in no more moderate tone than his own. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The men at the high table whistled, clapped, and stamped their feet, urging on their host and hostess as one would encourage a pair of fighting dogs. This, naturally enough, reduced the combatants to laughter, but the militant light did not fade completely from either pair of eyes. Good breeding required that the battle be carried on in private, and so it would be at the proper time and place. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
However, the fight was not to be continued that night when Ian and Alinor went up. Ian abruptly dismissed the menservants who had helped him up the stairs as soon as they reached the antechamber, and closed the door leading to the main room. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"You could have allowed them to help you into bed," Alinor protested. "We could talk as well with you lying down. You look tired and you look as if your leg hurts." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"I will not sleep in your bed tonight, Alinor," Ian said stiffly. If he lay there this night on the sheets that smelled of the same spicy scentrose and something elsethat Alinor used on her body, Ian knew he would not sleep at all. "There is a truckle bed set up for me in there." He gestured with his head toward the small chamber where Alinor's maids usually slept. "Do not argue with me," he added sharply. "I will not need any attendance tonight. I have something important to say, |
|
|
|
|
|